Hydrant



Dec. 27, 1938. H. M. LoFToN EVAL 2,141,692

HYDRAM1 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 `Filed April 8, 1935 Patented Dec. 27, 1938 i UNITED STATES PATENT oF'FlcE Tenn., assignors to Columbian Iron Works,

Chattanooga, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Application April s, 1935, serial No. 15,322

4 Claims.

This invention relates to hydrants, and particularly to fire hydrants yhaving independent inside gates, i. e., a valve for each hose nozzle.

A particular feature of the present invention y, resides in the utilization of a single operating means for simultaneously (1) lifting the gate or valve axially from its seat on the hose nozzle and (2) moving it laterally of the hose nozzle opening.

Another feature of the invention resides in employing an adjustable mounting for such single operating means, namely, the gate or Valve operating stern, such mounting including, for example, a threaded bushing whereby only a simple short turning, e. g., 90, ofthe stem is necessary to clear the nozzle opening and render the water supply instantly available; moreover, a very positive opening and closing of the hose nozzle opening is achieved. Another object is to provide, in lieu of an adjustable mounting for the stem, a construction including a nozzle having an inclined seat, in association with a valve having a rocking mounting on the end of its shaft lor stem.

In addition, the gate or valve has ya come pensating connectionwith the operating stem so that any inequalities in either the valve or the seating surface will be rrendered negligible, assuring a perfect seal at all times.

The main valve of the hydrant, as Well as the gate operating stem, are seated and unseated by turning the respective stems on their respective threaded mountings through the medium of the usual squared wrench receiving portion or cap nut associated with the operating stem; in the present invention, these wrench receiving portions are of the same dimension and co-ntour and have the same threaded relation. A single wrench is used to operate either valve, and the operating motion, i. e., the .direction of turning to seat and unseat the valve or gate is the same in eachY case. This is a very advantageous factor, and combined with the feature of having the gate unseated by a short turn of the operating stem, makes the hydrant quick acting. Since it is recognized that the rst seconds of a fire are the most vital, the importance of these improvements Will be appreciated.

free of parts which wouldv have a tendency to will be more fully pointed out hereinafter;

The construction is durable andv dependable,

Referring to Lthe drawings: Figure 1 is a partial vertical section through the hydrant.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 2 of Figurev 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of the wrench receiving portion of the gate operating stem.

Figure 4 is a vertical section of a preferred form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a similar view of a and l Figure 6 is a detail elevational View of the valveand nozzle seat of ligure.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings, the numeral Ill-designates a fire hydrant having the usual bonnet I I and'lower connecting portion I2 communicating with the Water main.

The main valve for controlling the water supply lfrom the main to the hydrant is indicated at I3 and is adapted toengage a seat I4 pro- 20 vided on the connecting portion I2. This valve is adjustably carried by a stem I5 threadedly mounted in a suitable bushing in the bonnet II, and at its outerend, the stem is provided with a wrench receiving portion or Capnut I8 for 25 turning the stem to seatand ,unseat the valve I3.

A nozzle outlet is indicated asia Whole at I1, and includes a cylindrical flange por-tion or boss I8 integral with the hydrant. Within the opening defined .bythe `flange portion` I8 is disposed 30 the cylindrical nozzle I9 having a shoulder 20 forming a valve seat 2I. This nozzle is inserted through the opening ,defined by the circular flange I8, from the inside of the hydrant, so that the circular shoulder 20 of the nozzle'en- 35 gages a circular shoulder 22 on thev wall I8. Thereafter, the nozzleis leaded and calked into position in the usualmanner, the outer end of the nozzle projecting beyond the Wall I8 and having a threaded portion receiving the usual cap 23 provided with a' Wrench receiving portion 24. Y v

We provide for each nozzle an independently operable inside gate or valve indicated as a rWholeat 25. As. many,nozzles I9 and gates 25 with associated operating means indicated as a whole at 26 may be provided as desired. The operating means is preferably disposed in a plane above or. below `the plane of the nozzles'and a most satisfactory position is above and in the same vertical plane as shown in Figure 4. In Figure 1, the operating means and nozzles are in thesame horizontal plane.

Referring to Figures 2 and 4, the gate operating mechanism includes a cylindrical flange pormodification,

tion or bearing housing 21 integrally formed with the hydrant I 0 and extending at substantially a 22 angle in Figure 4, and at approxi- Y mately a 45 angle in Figure 2 to the integral bass I8. This cylindrical ange portion is provided at one end with a shoulder 28 against which seats a suitable packing 28. A sleeve 29 internally threaded .with la relativelyV steep threadas shown at 30 is disposedV Within the flange 2l and at one end abuts said packing'ZB.

At its other end, the sleeve is recessed, as show rr at 3l, to receive a packing, preferably a leather" packing 32, which is doubled upon itself and. l.

within which is disposed a resilient member acting to spread the oppositelfsides'of thej packing respectively against the adjacentAvs/jallV of therecess 3l and the surface of the gate operating or valve stem 33 which extends through said sleevey This is'desirable .in that therelmay be slight in- 1 equalities present in either thevalve,rthe seat orV the stem, and the compensating'connection will enable the valve tobe adjusted to accommodate itself to any conditions of this character.

The valve stem-33, as shown, has a-bent por# tion or foot 38 of required angle, on one end of which is carried the valve 25, andthe body of the stem has a threaded portion 39 of similar Vsteep pitch with the threadsV 30 onthe sleeve 23 with which-they engage. VThe threads 30l-and 39 are sufcient to effect the necessary seating and unseating oithe valve to close andopen the nozzle and only` turns of of the stem areY necessary to completely openlthe nozzle and therebyrender the `water supply instantly available At its outer end, the e is connected tothe stem by a screw 40,' a wrench receiving portion or cap nut il carrying an integralY stop lug 42, asshown Y in detail in Figure 3.` The outer end ofthe flange 2l is provided with an integral'st'op having shoulders 43 adapted to be'i engaged by the lug. 42 to limit the turning movement ofthe valve stem to open and close the gate or valve in assembling the construction, the gate 25 and stem 33 in connected relation areinsertedin the opening dened by the flange orbossV 2B from the inside of the hydrant. Thereupon, the packing '28' isV positioned on the shoulder 28 Vand sleeve 29 is inserted through thev outer open end Vof the` flange 2, thesleeve being threaded on the stern until contactY of the sleeve with `the gasket 28 is established, preferably by means of a suitable Vspanner Wrench engaging in recesses in the end of the sleeve. YThen the sleeve is further revolved until the valve orgate is seated on the valve seat 2E] and againuntil the inde# threads @Bon the-flange 2l andlscrewed up rmly' against the end ofthe sleeve29to--x-it in -posistable" or tion. The cap nut 4I is now xed to the stem33 by means of the bolt 40.

It will be seen that the mounting for the stem 33, including the sleeve 29, provides a convenient means for regulating or adjusting pressure of the valve 25 on its seat. That is, not only may the seating' pressure ofV the valve on its seat be regulated when the assemblysis mounted, but

e after the valve has been in use for atime, the

seating pressure may be adjusted by tightening orloosening the pressure of the sleeve-29 against "the shoulder 23.

The cap nuts I3 and 4I Yare substantially similar in size and contour and this is likewise true of 'the nozzle cap 211..n Hence a single ywrench need only b e employed Again the threaded mountings ofV the main valve stem I5 and operating stem 33are.thersame, ite., both left or right handV threads, which is also the case with the threaded nozzle capV 2li, so that each of the cap nuts and thecap will be turned inthe same direction and by kthe same" tool, thus. minimizing any possibilities ofV confusion at the scene of a fire.`

-. .Intheoperationof the hydrant, the cap 23. is

removed and the hose threaded on the nozzle in therusual manner. Thereafter, the stem 33 isV Vturnedlin its mountinginV the xed sleeve 29 which will simultaneously act (l) to lift the valve or gate 25 axially from its seat 2l and V(2) move it laterally, e..g., upwardly in Figurel, or up- Wardly or downwardly in Figure l (in. accordance with whether `left or right. hand threads are used) to a position approximately 90 'from the closed position as 'shown in Figurel where the valve isidisplaced upWardly....Because of fA the steepness oi the pitch of the threads, the .nozzle is opened by a simple, quick and short positive turning movement of the gate operating stem, i. e., about 90, and hence the water is made in- Y stantly available. The'mainvalve I3 is, of course,

openedeither. prior to .releasing the nozzle'gate or may be opened subsequentlythereto as where a hose breaks or Ian additional Vhose is hooked up to the hydrant.

Y It will be notedV thata single positive means is first 'seconds of 'a conilagration Vare vital, this Y featureY is of unusual importance. Y Y

The hydrantemploys a separate gate 25 for each nozzle and a single operating means, namely,

' the `valve stem 33, is'associated respectively with each gate for simultaneously moving the Ygate axially andV laterally relative tothe nozzle.A It is-tobe-cbserve'd that a verypositive and effective .sealjisnobtained :by reason of the mechanical pressure or force exertedin closing the valve.V

Moreover dueto the adjustable mounting a very fine and Vcritical adjustmentof the pressure between the valveand seat is obtained, this being accomplished byrotating the sleeve 29 with re- `spectto the stem 33and'against` the shoulder 28.

vThe flanges or bosses I8 Yand 2T arelpreferably integral with the hydrant body casting `and form horizontallydisposed housings or mountings for the nozzle and'valve operating mechanism, re-

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, illustrating a modification, the nozzle shoulder 20' is wedgeshaped dening an inclined valve seat 2|'. The valve 25' is plane and mounted on the stem or operating ,trod by a ball and socket joint Sli- 35, as described above. If desired, the valve is made wedge-shaped and the seat plane, but an inclined seat and plane valve are preferred. The housing 21 has a bearing ring 5l] and an internally threaded sleeve 5I engaging the ring. The ring opening is, of less diameter than the opening in the housing through which the valve stem 33 passes and forms a lower shoulder 52. The valve stem 33 is enlarged at 53 and has a reduced extension 54, defining a shoulder 55 engaging the lower shoulder 52 formed by the ring. The reduced extension 54 has a threaded portion 56 receiving a locking sleeve 51 engaging the opposite or upper shoulder 58 provided by the ring, whereby the valve stem is fixed for rotation in the housing. In all other respects the construction of Figures 5 and 6 is similar to that previously described, except that the screw threads 56 need not be as steep as those disclosed in connection with the previously described embodiment.

In operation, a short turning of the cap nut 4l, moves the valve 25 from its wedging engagement with the seat or moves the valve into wedging seated relation therewith. This Wedging engagement of valve and seat assures a tight seal at all times.

1. A hydrant comprising a nozzle including a valve seat, a valve for said seat, a stem for operating said valve mounted for turning movement on the hydrant to seat and unseat said valve, said stem mounting including a threaded sleeve, said stem having threads engaging the threads of the sleeve, and means for regulating the seating pressure of said, valve on said seat by moving said sleeve with respect to said Stem.

2. In a hydrant, a casing including an outlet, a valve seat for the outlet on the inner Wall of the casing, a valve for said seat within said casing, said valve being carried by an angular operating stem, relatively steep threads on said stem, means for mounting said stem on said casing including a sleeve carried by said casing, and relatively steep threads on said sleeve for engaging the threads of said stem, whereby said valve may be moved both axially and laterally to and from said seat When said stem is turned in said sleeve, said sleeve being mounted for rotation on said casing to permit relative movement thereof with respect to said stem to adjust the pressure of said valve on said seat.

3. In a hydrant, a casing, an outlet nozzle extending through said casing from the interior to the exterior thereof, a valve seat at the inner end of said nozzle, a valve for said seat within said casing, a valve stem comprising a straight bearing portion and an angular portion within said casing, a valve stem bearing housing in said casing adjacent to and at one side of said nozzle, means for mounting said stem in said housing including a sleeve Within said housing surrounding said stem, relatively steep threads on the interior of said sleeve and cooperating threads on said straight portion of said stem in engagement with'the threads of said sleeve, whereby said valve may be moved both axially and laterally to and from said seat when said stem is turned in said sleeve, means for maintaining said sleeve fixed with respect to said casing during normal operation of said valve, said sleeve being mounted for rotation on said casing to permit relative movement thereof with respect to said stem to adjust the pressure of said valve on said seat.

4. A hydrant comprising a casing having a nozzle and a valve seat at the inner end thereof within said casing, a valve for said seat within the casing, a valve operating stem having an angularly disposed foot carrying vsaid valve and mounted in the casing adjacent to and at one side of said nozzle to seat and unseat said valve, said mounting means including means for adjusting said stem for regulating the seating pressure of said valve on said seat.

HERBERT M. LOFTON. EARL E. CLINE. 

